A team of students with Skyline Elementary School, in Cape Coral, took first place for their school in the Love Your Mother Challenge, earning the grand prize of a 400-square-foot garden from Heartland Gardens, a nonprofit based in Fort Myers. Thirty-one teams of 318 youngsters in the Lee County School District participated in the contest.

Skyline Elementary had 7,028 points, Orange River Elementary School was second with 6,948 and Bayshore Elementary School had 4,302 points for third place. The Challenge concentrated on physical activity, reducing meal plate portions, and reusing and recycling. The new garden at Skyline will help educate the children about nutrition and where food comes from.

Heartland Gardens offers hands-on, fun classes and workshops, available to the public at cost, on organic gardening, food preservation, nutrition and self-sustainability. The organization also offers work/study programs and scholarships. Its charitable goal is to facilitate the construction of 500 gardens in Lee County to help spread health, wellness and vitality to the community.

Heartland Gardens: 16836 McGregor Blvd. For more information, call 239-689-4249 or visit HeartlandGardens.org.